Grabbing a trash bag from under the sink, I throw my panties in them, tying it tightly, then get to work on cleaning the sink, pouring the rest of the bleach over it.
Once that's done, I take the can of air freshener and start to spray it all over my body. The fake vanilla scent has me wanting to gag, but I push through.
Before I leave, I make sure I cover my tracks the best I can before carefully opening the door. I wait, listening to the sounds of the house. The music is still playing, chatter coming from the front of the house.
It’s now, or never. I can’t risk someone coming back here to check on me. Because I know Ryan will. He always fucking does. Phone in hand, I shove the bag into my back pocket, and rush down the hallway towards my room.
I’m in survival mode, a mental space I’ve mastered at this point. While on the outside I look calm, put together, determined, on the inside I’m freaking the fuck out.
Because now it’s real, now it’s serious.
This is, at least to me, between life or death. I wasn’t kidding when I said I’d rather die than stay here, than let one of them touch me, than to be Ryan’s omega.
Dropping to my knees, I reach under the bed and wrap my fingers around the handle of my backpack and pull it out. Slipping it on my back, I grab my sneakers and slide themon. I’m about to leave before I remember the pocket knife I shoplifted from the corner store down the road.
I dart back to my mattress, lifting it up to find the slit cut open and shove my hand inside. Once I have my knife, I get the fuck out of there.
Double checking that no one’s around, I quietly rush towards the side door.
As soon as the cool night air hits me, a wave of relief settles over me. It’s dark outside, but the moon provides just enough light for me to be able to make it to the tree line without tripping over my feet. Hopefully.
Just as I take a step forward, ready to run for it, the smell of cigarette smoke fills my nose. My whole body freezes up, the familiar scent sending a wave of fear down my spine.
“What the fuck are you doing out here, Ava?” Ryan’s voice is like a shock to my system.
My heart threatens to burst from my chest.
I’m so fucking stupid. Of course there was a chance he was out here smoking. I should have factored that in, not just assume he was drinking with his dads. I know he smokes, like a damn chimney.
How could I be so damn stupid?
I don’t respond, I can’t seem to get my words to work even if I wanted to.
My breathing starts to come in quick sharp breaths, my head starting to spin as this annoying pounding starts to build.
“I asked you a fucking question.” His low, harsh growl has my spine stiffening. When he grabs onto my arm, his fingers curling around my bicep sending a jolt of pain through me, my head snaps in his direction.
Wrong move. I should have ignored him and taken off.
His cold steely eyes are like a dagger to the heart. And as if to drive the blade deeper, his scent fills my nose. It’s familiar, yet new.
And the moment my body lights up like a firework, my clit throbbing and my core aching, betraying me beyond compare, I know my worst nightmare is coming true.
No. Not him. Not this. Anything but this.
His pupils dilate, turning nearly as black as the night sky under the dim glow of the moon.
A low, chilling rumble vibrates through his chest, pulling an unwanted whimper from me.
What the hell was that?
And why the fuck does my body want him?
No, no, please no!
Thankfully my body isn’t in control right now. My mind does me a solid and snaps the fuck out of the state of shock I was in, sending me into a whole wave of denial.
Trembling, I take a step back, pulling myself free from his grasp.
